Long ago, a trip to the cinema was a major event. People would only go see a moving picture a few times a year. Later, it became a regular event, and people would go all the time just to pop in to see the news, or the latest serial. Nowadays, it is a regular event, one that many companies rely on for their income and success. Long gone are the days of dressing up in one's finest to go to the movies, instead people will just wear their t-shirts and jeans and go out to see a movie.
While a part of me wishes I could see the grandeur of the cinema in its golden years, the rest of me is glad it is so readily available and commonplace. Regardless, the ease of access and laid back casual approach to movie watching has generated a variety of bad habits and annoying circumstances that make going to the movies a pain. Worse still are the real dangers of going to the movies, the ones that can do physical harm. Don't know what I'm talking about? I'll get to that, but first I will list the pros and cons of going out to the movies.
Pros:
You will see the latest films before they are available online, on DVD/Blu-ray, or anywhere else.
You will see said films on the biggest screens available
And with the best sound (quality and surround sound a home theater could not even hope to achieve)
You will see the latest in movie technologies, like 3D and IMAX
Your friends can enjoy the movie at the same time
You have fun going out with family and friends and make a night of it
There are more pros, I am sure, but here are some cons...
Cons:
The price is not always cheap for tickets, and never cheap for consessions
The screens are not all the same, some are better than others and you never know what you are going to get
The new technologies have drawbacks (3D can cause headaches, IMAX can cause nausea, etc)
People
People is the main point of this post today. There are those annoying habits people have like talking during a movie, making a mess, causing a disturbance of some sort, and so on. In modern times, we are also bombarded with people who decide they can leave their phone on, or outright talk on the phone during the movie. There are those who think their mobile device's bright screen won't disturb anyone else in the theater. There are the messes of food and drink all over the floor from the last showing which is not always cleaned easily. Luckily all these have warnings before the movie, asking you to turn off your phones, don't text (finally), clean your mess, no talking, etc. Other than that, the common crowd noises are easily ignored (even by me), and if all these rules are followed, a movie is easily enjoyed.
But wait, these things are physically dangerous are they? No, not normally. Sure the threat of fires or illness from food exist, but that is rare and not a serious problem in theaters anymore. What I meant earlier by danger and physical harm can all be boiled down to one word, people. I will demonstrate with an event that happened yesterday to me and my dad at the theater.
We decided to see "Clash of the Titans" in theaters for Easter, while we waited for Easter dinner. We got to the theater early, got our snacks, even chose assigned seats at the Director's Hall where they were showing it. We decided against 3D, since this film more or less faked the 3D (it was filmed in 2D, and the 3D was added later). The movie started, and was somewhat enjoyable at first. Decent quality theater, clean, and quiet, at first. I was caught up in comparing the bizarre film to the original in my head, noting the many unusual changes (and reminded myself that the original had its fair share of cheese) when I heard a noise that didn't belong, a man talking loudly.
I looked over and saw my dad walking out to use the bathroom, and his shirt (which was unbuttoned as an over-shirt with a t-shirt underneath) was sticking out strangely, it was a little far, and in the dark, but it looked like it brushed over a man's bald head in the front row (one row down from us). Instead of just letting it go, he demanded an apology from my dad, loudly. My dad said sorry at a normal tone (which seemed loud in a quiet theater), and suddenly the man starts cussing at a yelling tone at my dad as he tries to walk to the bathroom. He bolts out of his seat, and runs after my dad, when the yelling (all coming from this man) continued in the hall.
Seeing how this man so violently got out of his seat and continued yelling obscenities, I was genuinely scared for my dad's safety. I was sure, not just slightly but absolutely, that this guy was chasing him down intending to start throwing punches. I ran after them and motioned to them to leave the theater before they continued the disturbance. I wish it ended there, where I heard my dad say for the second time that he was sorry he bumped into him, explaining it wasn't intentional and he didn't notice. I wish the guy would have accepted that as an apology, like any normal, logical, sane human being. Alas, he is not a normal, logical, sane human.
Now, outside the theater and still in the hallway (the one that leads to each screen), the man explodes at my dad for assaulting him. He used that word so many times, it sounded to me like he was trying to get my dad to admit he assaulted him, or at least find someone else who might side with him against being attacked. It was like he was trying to scam us.
Regardless, my dad walked into the bathroom as this man yelled after him, as though he was going to find a back way out of the bathroom and disappear. I was there and managed to keep the guy waiting. I asked him what happened, and he turns to me and says "that jerk grabbed my head and hit me in the theater". He then realized I was related, and asked me to tell my dad to "Come back out here and apologize like a man!". At this point, images of high school bullies, most of whom dropped out, came rushing into my head. This man already received 2 apologies, but that wasn't enough. While he was telling me this, he started his tough guy act. He tried to stand up taller (still a foot shorter than me), rolling up his sleeves, waving his arms around with his chest out, and yelling.
Hind sight is always useless for the situation you were in, but does give ideas for how to protect yourself from the same or a similar thing happening again. I realize now I should have whipped out my iphone, and started taking video. Photos wouldn't work, cause I can manipulate those, but I can not manipulate video (yet). That would have been best, but at least I will be sure to be ready next time someone makes visual physical threats against me or my family again.
I went into the bathroom to tell my dad that this guy has started threatening to call the police, and that his new favorite word was "assault". We went out together, and found the man still fuming, still yelling. My dad asked what was the problem, and the guy repeated his mantra (using "assault" for the 50th time). My dad apologized for bumping into him again, and explained he didn't notice and didn't mean to. The guy refused, loudly, to accept that answer. He was egging on my dad at this point. He was trying to get my dad to say he assaulted him. He was trying to show how big and tough he was with his waving arms, rolled up sleeves, and cocky attitude. He repeatedly asked my dad what he was apologizing for "(what did you do? what did you do?", he repeated his at least 6 or 7 times in a row). My dad said, "you tell me". I realized now that this guy looked like he was off his medication. It became apparent to me that I was not going to go back in to see the rest of this movie. Every time me or my dad tried to go back inside and just ignore the guy, he was block our way. He came within inches of touching us, as though he was trying to either provoke an actual assault (which he would have regretted since we were both bigger and both have black belts), or tried to get one of us to physically touch him so that he would either feign injury or retaliate in "self-defense". This guy really has a few screws loose, especially since he was in his 40s maybe, while my dad is a senior citizen.
About this time, 2 of his friends (or family, no idea the relation) came out trying to apparently calm him down. We explained that my dad apologized for the 4th time, and didn't do anything, and this guy was still yelling and would not accept the apology. By now, the managers had come over, and my sister also came out of the theater as well. We all argued, mostly against the crazy nutjob, while his friends did little, as they apparently didn't know why he was acting this way. They asked him to drop it, and he only got more mad.
The managers could do nothing, except comply to the request the nutjob gave them, to call the police. Which was fine cause my sister and I had both already dialed 911 and were about to hit the send button when they said this. By now the guy was so loud and obnoxious, we were asked to be apart from each other. We had no problem with this, but we heard the man repeatedly say he was going to press assault charges.
Several minutes later, 3 police officers showed up. First they talked to Nutty McNutjob, while we tried to calm ourselves down and have a chat with the manager about movies and 3D and the like. He was actually a cool guy, but made sure we understood that when the police get involved, they can do very little.
We occasionally saw the police talking amongst themselves, and one loudly asked "It's a simple question, yes or no?". Now they were still talking to Nutty McNutjob, when they said this. Now this brings to mind the many reasons someone would ask this question. Usually, it is either they didn't get a clear answer, or they didn't believe the guy from the get go. Here, I think it was both, but that is only speculation, as I heard nothing more of their conversation, but I knew then that the police didn't believe this guy either.
One of the officers came over, took down out information, and asked us to explain our side of the story. We explained all that happened, how we felt physically threatened by this man, and how he refused to accept an apology. The officer noted to us that they felt this man had no case, and was blowing hot air, and that they didn't believe him either. There was no motive for an assault, there were no witnesses to support him and plenty to support us, and so on.
In the end, what came dangerously close to a fist fight in a theater, which probably would have ended in Nutpants McNutter being arrested for assault, and sent to the hospital for injuries when we defended ourselves, as well as spending a night in jail ourselves, finally ended with the police asking him to leave and escorting him out instead. While charges are still a possibility, there is no case, and no evidence. If this guy wants to claim assault, where is the evidence? He had no injury, no bruise, no red spot, nothing. He was physically threatening, and verbally abusive. Where are his witnesses? What is the motive? He appeared to be either drunk (although we smelled nothing on his breath), on drugs, or not on drugs (i.e. medication he should have been on). We are convinced it was either the 3rd option, or he is truly one of those people who explode at the tiniest things and should be on drugs and in therapy.
We ended up going back inside to see that last 4 minutes of the movie, meaning we missed about half of it thanks to this guy. We got refunds from the theater. The managers were very cool about it. My adrenaline was all worked up, I felt sick in many ways over this, and my wife was left in the theater during all this although she waited in the hallways since no one came back in for most of the movie.
So, people, like Nutty McNutter here, are a major reason not to go outside and have fun with friends and family anymore, especially at theaters. You never know when someone is going to forget to take his medication, and decide you are his punching bag.
The irony here is that this guy, while clearly not on the level, and not thinking straight, messed up our movie watching experience, and yet we now have 2 free tickets each to see whatever we want to see at the same theater. Do not let things like this scare you into not going to the theater. You should always be ready to defend yourself against an attack, but also be more willing to forgive and let go, especially when you are the one yelling obscenities at people. Either you get free tickets, or you get escorted outside by the police.
All is well in the end, but I will be using my iPhone to capture video on all events I deem worthy of being evidence in court, if it should come to that.
